Safety Sheets With Low Sheer Strength

ABSTRACT

A set of low shear bed linens comprising a low shear fabric exhibiting a shear strength of between approximately 10 pounds and approximately 30 pounds and includes at least a cover bed sheet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to the field of sheets, more particularly to bedding sheets used by institutions.

2. Description of Related Art

Many institutions, such as mental hospitals, in-patient drug rehab facilities, medical hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, jails, and prisons, routinely deal with individuals that are suicidal or pose a flight/escape risk. Bedding sheets constitute one instrument often used in both suicides and escapes.

Typically, institutions use standard bed linens on beds. Bed sheets provide a ready tool for use as a makeshift noose to hang oneself or as a climbing rope to scale walls or lower oneself from a window.

Bed linens/sheets are an important hygiene item, necessary to protect mattresses from sweat and soiling, serving as a comfort and modesty item for patients and/or inmates. However, the bed linens/sheets are often used for suicides and in escapes.

Based on the foregoing, there is a need for a safety sheet with a low shear strength lessening utility for supporting a person and facilitating suicides or escapes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A set of low shear bed linens comprising a low shear fabric exhibiting a shear strength of between approximately 10 pounds and approximately 30 pounds and includes at least a cover bed sheet.

The set comprises a fitted bed sheet.

The shear strength is approximately 20 pounds.

The low shear fabric comprises at least one of a polyester, rayon, cotton, microfiber, or wool exhibiting the shear strength.

The set of low shear bed linens is disposable.

The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the FIGURES. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these FIGURES is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.

It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to “a step” or “a means” is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known in the art, and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein.

Although Claims have been formulated in this Application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any Claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present invention

Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. The Applicants hereby give notice that new Claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present Application or of any further Application derived therefrom.

References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “various embodiments,” etc, may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an exemplary embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.

Headings provided herein are for convenience and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

Devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention.

As is well known to those skilled in the art many careful considerations and compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimal manufacture of a commercial implementation any system, and in particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the needs of the particular application.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof.

In an embodiment, a low shear strength fabric can be used to make a bed sheet. The bed sheet itself can be a standard size rectangular twin, full, or queen size bedsheet; either a fitted or a cover sheet. The fabric used in the sheet can be a thin nylon similar to nylon stockings or pantyhose with a low shear strength of about 10 pounds to 30 pounds, ±1 pound, with a preferred shear strength of approximately 20 pounds±1 pound. Other fabric types can be used such as polyester, rayon, cotton, microfiber, or wool exhibiting low shear strength. That is, any fabric can be used to make the sheets as long as it meets the low shear requirement.

In an embodiment, the bed sheet is disposable.

In an embodiment, a set of bed linens can be made from a low shear fabric including a mattress protective cover, a fitted sheet that fits onto a mattress, a cover sheet, and a pillow case.

In use, the bed sheet fibers will tear and separate when subjected to a force greater than the specified shear and thus cannot support the weight of a person.

The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but instead as being fully commensurate in scope with the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A set of low shear bed linens, comprising: a low shear fabric exhibiting a shear strength of between approximately 10 pounds and approximately 30 pounds; and at least a cover bed sheet.
 2. The set of low shear bed linens of claim 1, further comprising a fitted bed sheet.
 3. The set of low shear bed linens of claim 1, wherein the shear strength is approximately 20 pounds.
 4. The set of low shear bed linens of claim 1, wherein the low shear fabric comprises at least one of a polyester, rayon, cotton, microfiber, or wool exhibiting the shear strength.
 5. The set of low shear bed linens of claim 1, wherein the set of low shear bed linens is disposable. 